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In a notable move, India's telecommunications department has confidentially directed smartphone manufacturers to include all new phones with a state-owned cybersecurity app that is non-removable. This directive, which has come to light, is likely to concern leading tech companies like Apple and prompt questions among digital rights groups.

A Global Trend in Cybersecurity Regulation

To combat a recent surge of online fraud and hacking, India is aligning with governments internationally. This step echoes recent regulations introduced in nations like Russia, which are designed to curb the use of lost phones for scams and encourage government-developed tools.

What Companies Are Affected by the Directive?

The new mandate affects leading mobile phone brands operating in the domestic market. This encompasses Apple, a company that has previously had disagreements with the telecom authority over similar applications, as well as giants like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

The Fine Print of the Government Order

An order dated 28 November provides phone companies a 90-day window to guarantee that the government's "Messenger Friend" application is pre-installed on all new devices. A key provision is that users will not be able to remove the software.

For handsets already in the supply chain, makers are instructed to deliver the app via software patches. It is worth mentioning that this directive was sent confidentially and was sent selectively to select companies.

Privacy Apprehensions Voiced

However, legal specialists have expressed serious apprehensions regarding this move. A legal expert specialising in technology law said that India's directive is a reason to worry.

“The government in essence removes user consent as a real choice,” stated Mishi Choudhary, an advocate working on digital advocacy issues.

Consumer organisations had earlier condemned a similar mandate by Russia in August for a state-backed messenger app to be included on phones.

The Size of the Domestic Market

India, among the world's biggest mobile markets, boasts more than 1.2 billion subscribers. Government data indicate that the Sanchar Saathi app, introduced in January, has already assisted in tracking down more than 700,000 lost phones, with around 50,000 found in October alone.

The authorities argues that the app is crucial to fight the “grave endangerment” of mobile network cybersecurity from duplicate or tampered IMEI numbers, which facilitate fraud and network abuse.

Apple's Stance

Apple's iOS runs on an estimated 4.5% of the 735 million mobile phones in India, with the rest using Android, according to industry analysis. While Apple pre-installs its own proprietary applications on its devices, its internal rules are said to prohibit the installation of any government app before the purchase of a smartphone.

“Apple has historically resisted these kinds of requests from governments,” commented Tarun Pathak, a analyst at Counterpoint.

“It’s probable to pursue a middle ground: instead of a compulsory inclusion, they might negotiate and propose an option to encourage users towards downloading the application.”

Queries for comment from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi went unanswered. India’s telecoms department also offered no comment.

The Role of the IMEI and the Application's Function

The IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a unique identification number assigned to each mobile device. It is primarily used by carriers to cut off cellular access for phones flagged as stolen.

The Sanchar Saathi app is chiefly created to help users track and locate missing phones across all telecom networks, using a central database. It also allows them to spot, and terminate, unauthorised mobile connections.

Notable Adoption and Outcomes

With more than 5 million downloads since its launch, the app has already been used to disable over 3.7 million stolen or lost mobile phones. Furthermore, over 30 million fraudulent connections have also been disconnected through its use.

The government asserts that the tool helps preventing digital threats and helps in the locating and disabling of lost or stolen phones, thereby helping police in recovering devices and preventing counterfeits out of the black market.